Torenia plant named &#39;danmoon15&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘DANMOON15’ particularly characterized by plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup- shaped flowers with petals in shades of violet and purple-violet with a yellow blotch on lower petal; cascading bush, which maintains a compact, rounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging baskets; early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate climate; suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial shade; and good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of 15° C. to 25° C.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIAED

Torenia sp.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DANMOON15’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Toreniaplant, botanically known as Torenia sp. of the Scrophulariaceae family,and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘DANMOON15’.

The new Torenia cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlledbreeding program by the inventor Gabriel Danziger in 2002 in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female or seed parent is the Toreniacultivar designated ‘TR-2-1002’ (unpatented). The male or pollen parentis the Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR-1’ (unpatented). The new Toreniacultivar ‘DANMOON15’ was discovered and selected by the inventor,Gabriel Danziger, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross in a controlled environment in 2002 in Moshav MishmarHashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Torenia cultivar by soft tip cuttingswas first performed in November of 2002 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivarreproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘DANMOON15’ which in combination distinguishthis Torenia as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Plants plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup- shaped flowers withpetals in shades of violet and purple-violet with a yellow blotch onlower petal;

2. Cascading bush, which maintains a compact, rounded plant habit;

3. Vigorous growth habit;

4. Densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging baskets;

5. Early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate climate;

6. Suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial shade;and

7. Good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of 15° C.to 25° C.

Plants of the new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON15’ differ from plants of theparents, ‘TR-2-1002’ (unpatented) and ‘TR-1’ (unpatented) in thefollowing characteristics described in Table 1. TABLE 1 Female ParentMale Parent New Cultivar ‘TR-2-1002’ ‘TR-1’ Character ‘DANMOON15’(unpatented) (unpatented) Mature Flower Petal shades of violet Petalshades of Petal shades of color and purple-violet, violet and blue pinkwith a with a yellow blotch with a yellow yellow blotch on lower petalblotch on lower on lower petal petal Flower size Depth: 3.0 cm Depth:About Depth: About 3.5 cm 2.8 cm Width: 3.0 cm Width: About Width: About4 cm 3.0 cm Growth habit Bush, cascading Bush, Bush cascading Floweringtime Less than 4 weeks 5 weeks from 3 weeks from from planting plantingplanting

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON15’ is theTorenia cultivar ‘DANTOHONEYMON’ (unpatented, and disclosed in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/144,631), in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 2: TABLE 2 Comparison Cultivar NewCultivar ‘DANTOHONEYMON’ Characteristic ‘DANMOON15’ (unpatented) MatureFlower Petal shades of violet and Petal shades of red-purple, Colorpurple-violet, with a yellow and purple, with a yellow blotch on lowerpetal blotch on lower petal Flower size Depth: About 3.0 cm Depth: About3.0 cm Width: About 3.0 cm Width: About 3.0 cm Growth habit Bush,cascading Bush, cascading Flowering time Less than 4 weeks from 9 weeksfrom planting planting

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON15’ showing the colors as true as isreasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors inthe photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘DANMOON15’.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘DANMOON15’ in a hanging planter at 3 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the typical flowers, buds and leaves of‘DANMOON15’ at 3 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON15’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘DANMOON15’ asgrown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Optimal growth conditions include that plants of ‘DANMOON15’are grown outdoors in a moderate climate and indoors during the winterseason. Irrigation and fertilization are recommended on a regular basis.Plants of ‘DANMOON15’ are usually grown in full sunlight, but partialshade is required in mid summer. Plants of ‘DANMOON15’ are fully grownin 3 months from planting a cutting in the summer season and bloom allyear-round in a moderate climate. The ‘DANMOON15’ plants describedherein were grown indoors in 16 cm pots in a glass greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel, with the day temperatures ranging from 18° C.to 35° C. and night temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 25° C. Plants of‘DANMOON15’ were fertilized up to a level of 59 ppm N, 35.4 ppm P and94.4 ppm K.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (RHS), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately noon in Moshav. Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the‘DANMOON15’ plants described is 8 weeks.

-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Torenia cultivar designated            ‘TR-2-1002’ (unpatented).        -   Male or pollen parent.—Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR-1’            (unpatented).-   Propagation: Tissue culture and soft tip cuttings.-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Bush, cascading.        -   Growth habit.—Compact, rounded.        -   Height.—About 10 cm.        -   Spread.—60 to 80 cm.        -   Cold tolerance.—Frost tender. Temperatures below 5° C. may            damage plants.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous growth; plants are fully grown in 3 months            from planting cutting in during summer season.-   Stem:    -   -   Color.—Green, RHS 143A.        -   Length.—About 35 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2.8 mm.        -   Pubescence.—Minimal.        -   Branching.—About 5 to 12 main branches grow from the base            and split into hundreds of secondary and tertiary branches.        -   Length of intemodes.—1.0 to 7.0 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Overall shape.—Triangular.        -   Apex.—acuminate.        -   Base.—reniform.        -   Size of leaf.—Width: 1.8 to 4.0 cm — Length: About 4.0 cm.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Color.—Center color of leaf: Green, RHS 137A — Upper side:            Green, RHS 137A — Under side: Yellow-Green, RHS 146B.        -   Leaf texture.—Primarily Smooth (minimal pubescence            present—few hairs on every leaf which are less than 0.3 mm            long).        -   Venation.—Pattern: Anastomotic — Color: Yellow-green, RHS            146B (upper and lower surfaces).        -   Petioles.—Length: About 0.4 to 1.5cm — Diarneter: About 2 mm            — Color: Yellow-Green, RHS 137A.-   Flowers:    -   -   Blooming period.—All year round in a moderate climate or in            a greenhouse environment. In Israel, flowering occurs            between February and November outdoors.        -   Flowering response time.—Less than 4 weeks from planting.        -   Flowering stem.—Flowers appear along the growing stems.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Per stem: About 4 to 6; — Per plant:            About 200 to 400.        -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 2 to 5 days,            depending on temperature; — Vase life: about 2 to 4 days.        -   Type.—Single.        -   Shape.—Overall: funnel form; 5-winged; — Corolla tube:            cylindrical or often broadened above; — Corolla: 2-lipped,            the upper lip faintly 2-lobed, the lower lip 3-lobed.        -   Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Flower size.—Depth: About 3.0 cm — Width: About 3.0 cm.        -   Bud.—Shape: Oblong, cylindrical, ellipsoid, 5-winged — Size:            — Length: About 25 mm — Diameter: About 10 mm.        -   Color.—Apex: Purple-violet, RHS 81A — Base: Green, RHS 143B.        -   Texture.—Pubescence on winged edges.        -   Floral tube.—Length: About 2.3 cm — Width: About 0.3 cm to            1.2 cm — Color: The colors change going through the flower            tube down. — Outside: Violet, RHS 84A (starting from above),            yellow-orange, RHS 16A (base) and violet, RHS 85C (middle) —            Inside: Violet, RHS 85A (apex) and yellow-orange, RHS 17A            (base).        -   Petals.—Number: Four, fused. — Length: — Upper Petal: About            2.5 cm; — Side Petals: About 2.5 cm; — Lower Petal: About            2.4 cm.        -   Width.—Upper Petal: About 1.2 cm; — Side Petals: About 1 cm;            — Lower Petal: About 1.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Upper Petal: — Overall: orbicular — Apex: rounded, —            Base: fused; — Side Petals: — Overall: spatulate, — Apex:            rounded, — Base: fused; — Lower: — Overall: spatulate, —            Apex: rounded, — Base: fused. — Margin: Undulated and            toothed. — Color: Purple-violet petals with darker            purple-violet blotches on side petals surrounding the            corolla, and a yellow blotch in the middle of the lower            petal near base, and light violet color at base of all            petals.        -   Mature petals.—Upper Surface: — Upper Petal: Near apex,            purple-violet, RHS 80A, and near base, light violet, RHS            85A; and margin, RHS N80B; — Side Petals: Near apex,            purple-violet, RHS N81A, with centralized darker            purple-violet blotch, RHS N81A, and near base, light violet,            RHS 85A, and margin RHS N81A — Lower Petal: Primarily            purple-violet, RHS N81A, with yellow blotch, RHS 6A, in the            middle near base, and light violet color surrounding yellow            blotch and near base, RHS 85A, and margin RHS N81A. — Lower            Surface: — Upper Petal: Near apex, RHS N80B, and near base,            RHS N80B and margin, RHS N80A. — Side Petals: Near apex, RHS            N80A, and near base, RHS N80C and margin, RHS N80A; — Lower            Petal: Near apex, RHS 158A, and near base, RHS 85A and            margin, RHS N80A. — Throat: — Upper throat: Light violet,            RHS 85A; — Lower throat: Yellow, RHS 6A.        -   Immature petals.—Upper Surface: — Upper Petal: Near apex,            RHS N80A, and near base, RHS 84A; and. margin, RHS 77A; —            Side Petals: Near apex, purple, RHS 77A, near base, RHS 77A,            and margin RHS 77A; — Lower Petal: Primarily purple, RHS            77A, with yellow blotch, RHS 6A, in the middle near base,            and margin RHS 77A. — Lower Surface: — Upper Petal: Near            apex, purple, RHS 77A, and near base, RHS N81A and margin,            RHS N81A; — Side Petals: Near apex, purple, RHS 77A, and            near base, violet, RHS 84D, and margin, RHS N81A; — Lower            Petal: Near apex, purple, RHS 77A, and near base, RHS 77A            and margin, RHS 77A; — Throat: — Center of Flower: Light            violet, RHS 84A.        -   Sepals.—Number: 5 — Length: About 1.8 cm — Width: About 0.8            cm — Shape: Two-lobed, 5-winged — Apex: Acute — Base: Wedge            shaped — Margin: Undulated — Color: Yellow-green, RHS 144A.        -   Peduncle.—Length: About 0.5 to 1.4 cm — Diameter: About 1.2            mm — Color: Green, RHS 143B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: — Number: 2 pairs per flower, fused —            Color: Light purple, RHS 76C — Anther: — Length: About 0.4            cm; upper anther shorter - about 0.3 cm — Width: About 0.1            cm — Color: Light purple, RHS 76C — Spur: Present —            Filament: — Length: About 1.5 cm; lower filaments are            shorter about 0.4 cm — Width: About 0.5 cm — Color: Light            purple, RHS 76C — Pollen: — Amount: Sparse. — Color: White,            RHS N155B — Requirements for pollination: Young flowers,            vital pollen, and receptive, open stigma.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: — Number: One per flower — Length: About            2.3 cm — Stigma: — Length: About 0.2 cm — Width: About 0.2            cm — Color: Light purple, RHS 76B — Style: — Length: About 2            cm — Color: Light purple, RHS 76B — Ovary: — Number: 1 —            Length: About 0.5 cm — Width: About 0.2 cm — Color: Green,            RHS 143A.-   Seed/fruit: None.-   Pest/disease resistance and/or susceotibility: A standard    preventative spray program is sufficient as no susceptibility was    observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Sensitive to temperatures below 5° C.

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘DANMOON15’, as illustratedand described herein.